Scotch whisky sales in the UK dipped almost five per cent last year, new figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show.

The figures, published today by whisky trade body the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), show 83.3 million 70cl bottles of Scotch whisky were sold in the UK last year, down 4.78 per cent on 2013 when 87.5 million bottles were sold.

These figures come from HMRC's statistics for the number of bottles released from bond for sale in the UK.

The SWA said the UK market for whisky has contracted 9.5 per cent since 2009, when 92 million bottles were sold.

It suggests high Duty taxes are partly to blame for the decline in sales, though adds sales declines must also be viewed against a wider and increasingly competitive drinks market.

At present, the SWA says on average 78 per cent of the price of a bottle of Scotch whisky is tax, which it claims is “damaging a domestic industry that is of great importance to the economy”.

The SWA is currently lobbying on behalf of the industry to reduce the level of tax on whisky.

It points to its own research, published in January, suggesting the industry is worth £5 billion to the UK economy and supports more than 40,000 jobs.

The research, carried out by 4-consulting for the SWA, suggests the industry provides £3.3 billion directly to the UK economy with a further £1.8 billion spent on suppliers to the industry each year through drying goods, bottles and packaging, energy, transport and distribution.

The SWA has also been engaged in a long-running legal battle with the Scottish Government over the issue of minimum pricing of alcohol, which has now been referred to the European Union Court of Justice.

It is also currently lobbying the Chancellor George Osborne to cut duty by two per cent in the March 18 Budget.

SWA chief executive, David Frost, said: “Scotch Whisky is a massive export success for the UK so it’s obviously disappointing to see this decline in volumes in our domestic market.

“In next week’s Budget the Chancellor has the perfect opportunity to support an important UK industry.

“He should cut spirits duty by two per cent.

“This move would also benefit consumers and public finances.

“In last year’s Budget, the Chancellor highlighted Scotch Whisky as a ‘huge British success story’. “We hope this year too he will show his support for this world-class manufacturing industry.”